MANILA, Oct 1 Kyodo The United St...

MANILA, Oct 1 Kyodo

The United States is unlikely to launch a military attack in succession Iraq this month or nearest a senior Philippine security official said Tuesday.

''This assessment, that it is not going to happen in October and probably greatest in number likely also not in November, is not the crops of our own analysis. It is the crops of our soundings with senior officials of the U Department of State, the (US) National Security Council and the Department of Defense in the US'' National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said at a briefing for Malacanang presidential palace reporters.

Golez who has been in obstruct contact with U.S. officials, said the ''after-November'' timeframe has been adopted by the agency of the Philippines in its preparation of contingency plans for the relocation of overseas Filipinos to safer areas if U attacks Iraq.

The Philippine National Security Council (NSC) has also agreed with the policy pronouncement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo forward support of the U case against Iraq for allegedly keeping weapons of mass destruction.

Golez added, however, he could give no details onward whether Philippine support would include allowing the U to use Philippine airspace.

The NSC he said, has adopted a consensus that any war with Iraq will be surpassingly short.

''We do not reckon upon the war to take drawn out In fact, we expect the war, if at all it takes place, to be a real swift war, meaning only just days. We're not talking of month or weeks, just days,'' he said.

According to the NSC chief, there are 121 Filipinos that would be endangered if the U attacks Iraq, to a high degree many fewer than the 27000 at risk during the 1991 whirlpool War.

Golez also said the Philippines' oil store will remain stable in the conclusion of attack because Iraq is not a supplier to the Philippines. moreover he added the NSC is still advising companies to increase their oil husbands from the usual inventory of 12 days to 40 days in case of fluctuations in world oil prices.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group